Services held for Barnum

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 11/17/2003 12:00:00 AM

CHICAGO —

Memorial services were held here for home furnishings and design specialist Ron Barnum, 65, who died Oct. 31 of cancer.

Barnum began his career at Marshall Field's in interior design and merchandising, and moved to Sears, where he was assistant national design director from 1962-1970.

He then moved to New York to become the first national design director for home furnishings at J.C. Penney's corporate office.

Barnum was later a member of the design and development group at Minneapolis-based Room and Board; Gabbert's, Minneapolis, where he served as corporate design director; and as president and a principal of the House Store, a four-unit chain here.

In 1977 he formed Ronald Barnum & Associates, with clients including The Baby's Room/USA Baby, Home 1-2-3, Natuzzi's Leather & Comfort, European Furniture Warehouse, Wickes, and Sugar Hill Furniture, all of Chicago; and Rochester, NY-based Houseworks, among others.

Survivors include his mother, Velma Barnum; his brother, Bob Barnum; and his sister, Jo MacDonald, all of Lansing, MI. Contributions in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society.